Bingo calls have been around as long as the game itself, but over the generations modern bingo calls have emerged alongside the classics. If you're wanting to brush up on your game, or it's been a while since you've played, get to know these modern bingo calls and their meanings.

While many of the traditional bingo calls have survived the test of time and remain as popular today as they ever were, popular culture and modern slang move on, a fact that is reflected in the changing bingo calls that now make it into modern bingo lingo.

Some calls come and go in the twinkling of a bingo caller’s eye, along with the careers of those who inspired them. Others earn their stripes and cement their place in the hearts of bingo callers, the length and breadth of the country. Sometimes moves are made to give bingo, a game of chance that rose to popularity in the 1950s,  a modern face lift by introducing a new list of modern bingo calls. However, the ones that last are those that come from a place of genuine cultural significance or familiarity and enduring popularity that seers itself into our collective consciousness. 

Not only have bingo calls changed over the years, the game has also been adapted - and there are now several different types of bingo game - many of which you can play online at some of our favourite bingo sites.

• 1. Little Jimmy, One Direction, YOLO -  Little Jimmy refers to Little Jimmy Osmond who had a string of chart hits and spent five weeks at number one in 1972 with ‘Long Haired Lover From Liverpool’. Harry Styles and his One Direction bandmates may have found their calling on X Factor, but who would have thought Simon Cowell’s protégés would have been immortalised in the bingo hall of fame? YOLO is the modern acronym for You Only Live Once. 
• 2. Doctor Who - William Hartnell first graced the small screen as the time travelling doctor in 1963. The lasting popularity of the show and its successful revival, has secured this bingo call its place of modern calling.
• 3. I’m Free, Debbie McGee - 'I’m free’ was the camp catchphrase of John Inman who starred as a shop floor assistant in the hit seventies comedy sitcom Are You Being Served. Debbie MCGee is best known as being the assistant and wife of TV magician Paul Daniels, and for her more recent appearance on Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.
• 4. Bobby Moore - ‘Bobby Moore’ replaced ‘Knock at the Door’ after captaining the 1966 winning World Cup English football team.
• 6. Little Mix - A rhyming call. Girl band, Little Mix, were put together on  X Factor in 2011. Since then they have had a string of chart hits, releasing their sixth album 'Confetti' in November 2020. 
• 7. David Beckham, Popular With Strictly’s Len - Former England captain, David Beckham, wore the number seven shirt for most of his careers with Manchester United and England. Given that his net worth is estimated at £300 million, ‘lucky for some’ seems appropriate. Len Goodman appeared as head judge on hit TV Show Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2017  where his favourite score ‘ Seven’ became his very own catchphrase.
• 8. Gareth Gates, Tinder Date - The rise and fall of Gareth Gates as a popular bingo call mirrors his brief career. Let’s hope that Tinder dates don’t prove a similarly brief encounter.
• 9. Selfie Time - Kim Kardashian’s favourite pastime

• 11. Eyebrows on Fleek - Replacing ‘legs eleven’ this modern visual call is guaranteed to raise a few plucked eyebrows.

• 15. Dancing Queen, Dabbing Machine, Yass Queen - All rhymes. Dancing Queen is the worldwide hit for the Swedish super troopers ABBA. Although released in 1976, the huge box office hit that was Mamma Mia, introduced it to a whole new younger audience. For this reason, we feel that Dancing Queen is a bingo call destined to last. Dabbing machine has a double meaning. A dauber is a special marker pen used to mark your bingo card. It's also a dance craze that involves dipping your head and stretching out your arms. It was the craze of 2015. "Yas Queen" made its way into modern slang after an Instagram of a super fan meeting Lady Gaga went viral. Blown away with excitement his cry "YAAAASSSSSS" instantly caught on. But the phrase actually has its roots in the queer New York ballroom scene of the 1980s. 

• 22. Desmond, Tay Tay - Desmond refers to the South African anti-apartheid activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Two-two, geddit? Tay Tay is a nickname fans use for Taylor Swift whose song, '22' was the fourth single from her fourth studio album, 'Red'. 

• 24. Lads on Tour - A simple rhyme referring to a wild weekend away with the boys.

25. Adele - ‘25’ Is the name of Adele’s third studio album which sold over 23 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth-best selling album of the 21st century.

27. Hipster Heaven - A simple rhyme referring to the cool crew usually found hanging out in the bars and coffee shops of east London.

• 32. Jimmy Choo - Carrie Bradshaw's favourite shoe designer. And a simple rhyme.

• 48. Tag a Mate - Like you would on social media. 

• Amazon Prime - A simple rhyme with the world’s largest online retail empire whose founder, Jeff Bezos, is the world's wealthiest person, with a net worth of $182 billion. We wonder if Jeff likes to play bingo?

• 52. Danny La Rue, Chicken Vindaloo - Famous drag queen, Danny La Rue, was a household favourite in the 1970s but this bingo call is now a little dated, so is often replaced with one better designed to curry favour with younger players. 

• 53. Here Comes Herbie - Herbie was a much loved VW Beetle who had number 53 painted on his side and starred in a string of Disney films between 1968 and 2005. Players shout ‘beep beep’ in response to 53 being called,

• 64. The Beatles - A reference to The Fab Four’s famous hit ’When I’m Sixty-four’.

• 66. Historic US Route - Route 66 is the famous road that ran from Chicago in the east to California in the west covering 2448 miles.
• 71. J-Lo’s Bum - Once reputedly insured for a whopping $17 million.
• 88. Wills and Kate - A right royal rhyme.

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Want to know who invented bingo, where bingo came from and how it was played? We break down the origins of the much-loved game of chance.

Bingo – in some form – has been loved by Brits since the 18th century. While its popularity has fluctuated over decades, it has at some point kept everyone from soldiers at war to Millennials on a night out entertained with the chance of winning cash prizes. Many of the traditional bingo calls began when the game rose to popularity in the 1950s - and new modern day bingo calls and nicknames are being shared all the time.

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The origins of bingo

There are several different types of bingo, but the traditional game has its roots in 1500s Italy, spreading throughout Europe over the few hundred years that followed. It started life as a game called, 'Il Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia', which translated to, 'The Clearance of The Lot of Italy' back in 1530 and was more like our National Lotto than the game we know today. From there, it was adopted by the French, where it was named, ‘Le Lotto’ and only really played among the wealthy elite.

Why is it called bingo?

To get close to the origins of the bingo game we all know and love today, we need to look Stateside. As legend has it, a New York toy salesman named Edwin S. Lowe was travelling from NY to Jacksonville in Georgia on business in 1929. With a little time to spare to fill before his next day’s meeting, Edwin had a little mosey around a passing carnival that had parked up in town. It was there he came across a 'Beano' stall, which involved a caller pulling out numbered balls from a cigar box and players using dried beans to cover up numbers written on cards in front of them. Should the players cover a straight line with the beans, they would shout “Beano” and win a teddy bear. 

Lowe waited until the carnival closed to quiz the stall owner. He revealed came up with the game after playing a version of the Germany lottery while travelling in Europe. Lowe was quick to take the game back to New York, creating his own set of Beano cards to trial with friends. He was delighted to find they were instantly hooked but in their excitement to win, one shouted “Bingo” instead of “Beano”, and so the game was born.

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British bingo and 'Housey Housey'

There is some suggestion that while all this was going on across the pond, us Brits were also developing our own form of bingo. After the creation of a national lottery in Elizabethan times, games of chance were seen as a good route out of poverty. Their popularity quickly grew, with many illegal lottos popping up alongside the state-approved game. The police were keen to shut these down with bingo, in its earliest form, becoming illegal. 

Reports from World War I documents troops playing a very similar game called ‘Housey Housey’ in the trenches. Once the war was over, the British troops were reluctant to give up the game that had helped them pass so many bleak days. Bringing it back home, bingo was a hit among both men and women in post-war Britain. Illegal games started to pop up all over the country, over the next 20 years.

Peckham, in South-East London, became a hot-bed of Housey Housey action thanks to a man called Louis Hart. Hart was known to police for running several illegal Housey Housey games back in 1937. Each one would have around 30-60 players but it was far cry from the fast-paced bingo we know today. Players would sit with their cards in front of them, but the actual process of drawing numbers was incredibly laborious. To cut through the tedium, comical bingo calls were invented.

The game continued to spread throughout the working men's clubs of the north of England until it was finally formalised in the UK in 1968 through the UK Gaming Act. By 1986, the National Bingo Game was legalised and became hugely popular, until a dip in the early 00s, which coincided with the ban of smoking indoors. In recent years, bingo has grown again in popularity – helped by the creation of online bingo.

When was the bingo dauber invented?

A major flaw in using beans to mark your numbers was that a little nudge of the table would send them flying and ruin the game.

Another solution was needed and in the late 19th century, a special pen that would cover the number in one quick dab was invented. Bingo daubers are a bingo-player’s staple but be warned – in most cases, the ink is permanent so you might be in trouble if you accidentally dab your clothes.

Some bingo halls use biros to mark the numbers but if you want a classic method, then a bingo dauber is the way to go. If you're playing online bingo then the numbers will be automatically marked as they are called.

When was online bingo invented?

The first online bingo game was created in 2003 and it has grown in popularity ever since. Bingo is generally viewed as a game played by older people in bingo halls and working men's club, but in recent years the game has boomed in popularity among younger crowds. Online bingo especially appeals to audiences of all ages. If you've never played before, read our advice on how to play bingo - and, which bingo site is best. 

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If you don’t know your fat ladies from your two little ducks, eyes down for an education into the meaning and origins of some of our best-loved traditional bingo calls.

Bingo calling is all part of the fun of playing bingo. Experts will know their bingo calls inside out but if you're a newbie, or just interested in the history behind bingo lingo, we've pulled together a comprehensive guide.

Over the years modern bingo calls have been devised, but this is our guide to the classics. Find out the meaning behind your best-loved traditional bingo calls below. If you're fascinated by the game, you might also be interested to know the first form of bingo was invented in the 1500s in Italy - but rose to popularity across the UK in the 1950s. Nowadays, there are many different types of bingo - and some of the best bingo games can be played online.

Traditional bingo calls: 1-30

• 1. Kelly's Eye - Like many slang expressions, the origins of this bingo call is a little uncertain. Some say Kelly's Eye is a reference to the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, who some believed only had one eye. In fact, Ned Kelly had two eyes -  something attested to by the death mask taken after his execution, which can be seen on display in the Melbourne Gaol Museum. It's more likely that this famous bingo call refers to the letterbox metal helmet that Kelly fashioned as part of the makeshift armour his gang used as protection in gun fights with the lawmen. Another theory is that the number one originated from the music hall song, ‘Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?’, popularised at the turn of the century and incorporated into the St Patrick's Day celebrations in America.
• 2. One Little Duck, Me and You, Baby’s Done, Kelly’s Cousin - This is the first of the visual clues, which pop up regularly among the bingo calls. You might have noticed the written number 2 resembles One Little Duck swimming. While this is the most commonly used calls for this number, other traditional nicknames include Cockney rhyming slang Me and You and Baby’s Done meaning baby’s done a poo, or a number two. Kelly’s Cousin may refer back to Ned Kelly's cousin Tom Lloyd, who was a staunch supporter of the notorious Kelly Gang.
• 3. Cup of Tea, Goodness Me, A Flea - It’s hardly surprising, given that a quarter of us get through five or more a day, that the nation’s favourite drink a Cup of Tea remains among our most enduring bingo calls. Goodness Me is a shortening of the saying, "goodness gracious me", which in term comes from the phrase "God grace me". While Lady Luck may have a part to play in one’s bingo fortunes, it’s our guess that our Lord may have more important matters to attend to. A Flea is a visual reference. Apparently, a flea on its side resembles the number 3.
• 4. Knock at the Door  - A simple rhyme.
• 5. Man Alive, One Little Snake - "Man Alive" is used as an expression of disbelief or incredulity. It is thought that it originally arose as a nautical cry used by sailors to alert their crew members when finding someone alive in a shipwreck. Much like number 2 being a duck, One Little Snake is another visual reference to the number's appearance.

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• 6. Tom Mix, Chopsticks, Spot Below - Tom Mix was a star of the silver screen whose daredevil stunts, handsome good looks and impressive 10 gallon hat made him the first cowboy hero of the silent western movies. Chopsticks is another rhyme, this time with the East-Asian eating utensils or – given the musical tradition of bingo calls – perhaps The Celebrated Chop Waltz aka Chopsticks, the favoured tune first mastered by most beginner piano students. Spot Below refers to the fact that numbers that could be mis-read had a dot or spot underneath to prevent confusion. In this case, so a six isn't mistaken for a number nine.
• 7. Lucky Number Seven - The Lucky Number Seven is thought to bring good fortune in cultures around the world, something born out of religious belief and symbolism. In the Judaic religions, God created the world and on the 7th day he rested. Seven levels of heaven are spoken of in the Qu'ran and Hindus believe in seven higher worlds and seven underworlds. In Buddhism, the newborn Buddha rose and took seven steps. In bingo it means one square closer to a full house.
• 8. Garden Gate, Harry Tate, One Fat Lady - Garden Gate is a simple rhyme. Harry Tate was an old music hall comedian whose name entered the lexicon of Cockney slang, initially meaning late, because of Harry’s repertoire of comedy routines about car breakdowns. By around the mid-1915, Harry Tate began to serve as slang for plate. One Fat Lady is a visual gag referring to the fact that the number 8 resembles the form of an overweight lady.
• 9. Doctor's Orders  - Doctors Order is one from military history. Apparently 9pm was when the army medics shut up shop for the night. Another suggestion is that the number nine was army slang for a laxative, which was administered to the troops to help them stay regular.
• 10. Blind 10, Johnson’s Den, Cock ‘n' Hen’ - The prefix ‘blind’ is also used for the numbers 10, 20, 30 - 90 and is possibly a visual reference to zero looking like a single eye. Number 10 Downing Street remains the inspiration for this enduring bingo call, which changed according to the PM of the day. Cock 'n' Hen is Cockney rhyming slang for ten. 
• 11. Legs Eleven  - A visual joke, which was traditionally greeted with a wolf whistle from the players, something no longer considered PC.
• 12. One Dozen, A Monkey’s Cousin - This one does what it says on the tin. A Monkey’s Cousin is rhyming slang for dozen.
• 13. Unlucky for Some  - Just as number seven is feted as the world’s luckiest, so the number 13 is seen as a number loaded with bad fortune, and so Unlucky for Some. Such can be the fear of the number 13, that it is even a recognised phobia known as triskaidekaphobia. 
• 14. Valentines Day, Lawnmower - February 14th is Valentine’s Day. The meaning behind the bingo call Lawnmower is a bit obscure but apparently, before electric mowers were a twinkle in a Flymo engineer’s eye, the early push-pull lawnmowers operated with 14-inch blades.
• 15. Young and Keen - A simple rhyme.
• 16. Sweet Sixteen, Never Been Kissed - This is one of the oldest bingo calls still in current use, possibly because the song it pays tribute entitled Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed was re-recorded over and over from 1900 to 1981 and performed by the likes of Shirley Temple and Val Doonican.
• 17. Old Ireland - This refers to St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Old Ireland, which falls on March 17th.
• 18. Coming of Age - Voting rights were first established for 18 year-olds in 1970. Prior to that you needed to be 21 to exercise your democratic rights. Nowadays, 18 is seen as a Coming of Age milestone, as it's the age people can also legally drink. 
• 19. Goodbye-Teens - Hello roaring twenties and Goodbye-Teens.
• 20. Blind 20, One Score One Score means 20 - The word score was a term once used by shepherds to count their livestock, it’s believe they’d count to 20 and then mark a score on their stick so they wouldn’t lose count.

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• 21. Key to the Door, Royal Salute - Everyone knows the famous ditty “I’ve got the Key to the Door/Never been 21 before.” Twenty-one was considered the age at which young adults reached maturity and could be trusted with their own set of front door keys. The Royal Salute used to honour The Queen is also known as the 21 gun salute.
• 22. All the Twos, Two Little Ducks, PC Parker, Dinkie Doo - Two Little Ducks again is a visual call with number 2 resembling a duck. This call is traditionally responded to with a “quack, quack, quack” from players. PC Parker was a favourite music hall character created by comedian Charles Austin who was also known as the "King of Cockney Humour".  A Dinkie Doo was the name given to concert parties held at the end of a pier.
• 23. Thee and Me, The Lord Is My Shepherd, A Duck With a Flea - Thee and Me is a simple rhyme. The Lord is My Shepherd is the first line of Psalm 23,  while A Duck With a Flea brings together the earlier visual calls.
• 24. Two Dozen - 12 + 12 = 24, literally adding up Two Dozen. This number also used to have the traditional call ‘Pompey’s Whore’ but this reference to prostitutes working the Portsmouth docks has fallen out of favour for obvious reasons.
• 25. Duck and Dive - This is a rhyme with a pun with a visual reference thrown in for good measure. The number two is the duck and the number five resembles an upside down duck. To Duck and Dive, like bobbing and weaving seems to have originated in the boxing ring, before moving into the general vernacular to describe someone good at hustling and keeping out of trouble. 
• 26. Pick ‘n Mix, Half a Crown, Bed and Breakfast - Pick 'n' Mix refers to the self service weigh out sweets that became synonymous with high street favourite, Woolworths. Nothing stirs up modern day nostalgia quite like the mention of Woolies and anyone of a certain age probably has fond childhood memories of their first pick n mix encounter. Half a Crown was two shillings and sixpence (two and six) in old money, which was supposedly the price of a night in a Bed and Breakfast. It was demoneterised on 1st January 1970.
• 27. Gateway to Heaven, Duck and a Crutch - Gateway to Heaven, a reference to the pearly gates, is another straight rhyme. A Duck with a Crutch’ is a visual reference with the number seven being thought to resemble the crutch.
• 28. Over Weight, The Old Braggs, In a State - Over Weight is both a simple rhyme and a visual gag given that number 8 is affectionately known as the fat lady. The Old Braggs was a nickname given to the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment of Foot, a military troop that dates back to 1694. Two and eight is cockney slang for "In a State".
• 29. Rise and Shine - A simple rhyme
• 30. Blind 30, Dirty Gertie, Burlington Bertie, Speed Limit - Burlington Bertie is a famous music hall number. Dirty Gertie from Bizerte who "put a mousetrap up her skirts" was a bawdy song first published in Yank magazine and sung by Allied soldiers during the Second  War. ‘Dirty Gertie from number 30’ was also made famous by Basil Brush, the loveable TV puppet show which ran from 1963 to 1984.  Speed Limit, refers to the thirty mile per hour limit which came into force in built-up areas back in 1935. 

Traditional bingo calls: 31-60

• 31. Get up and Run - A simple rhyme.
• 32. Buckle my Shoe - Another rhyme.
• 33. Blind Thirty, All the Threes, Three Feathers, Gertie Lee, Dirty Knee, ‘Sherwood Forest’, Two Little Fleas - Three Feathers refers to the Prince of Wales. Gertie Lee is rhyming slang for 33. Sherwood Forest is a play on words. Said with an Irish accent "All the Threes" becomes "All the Trees", of which many are to be found in Sherwood Forest. Two Little Fleas is the visual reference of the number three, explained earlier.
• 34. Ask for More - A simple rhyme.
• 35. Jump and Jive - The Jive, a version of the American jitterbug, became a popular dance craze in the 1940s and 50s. 
• 36. Three Dozen - 3 x 12 = 36.
• 37. More than Eleven - A simple rhyme.
• 38. Christmas Cake - A slightly tenuous rhyme.
• 39. Steps, Jack Benny - Steps is a reference to the John Buchan novel & Alfred Hitchcock film 'The Thirty Nine Steps'. Jack Benny was a successful American comedian who started out working life as mediocre violin player in vaudeville before carving a successful career in film and radio which spanned over a decade. His running gag was that he was perpetually 39 years old.
• 40. Blind Forty, Naughty Forty, Life Begins, Two Scores - "Life Begins at Forty" is a popular and enduring saying from the 1930s, following the publication of a bestselling American self help book of the same title by university professor W. B. Pitkin.
• 41. Time for Fun, Life’s Begun - Another further reference to that old adage ‘‘Life Begins at 40".
• 42. Winnie the Pooh, The Street in Manhattan - Winnie the Pooh is everyone’s favourite bear immortalised in the classic books by A A Milne. The Street in Manhattan is 42nd Street which was also the title of a 1933 musical comedy starring Ginger Rogers.
• 43. Down on your Knee - A simple rhyme.
• 44. All the Fours, Droopy Drawers - A simple rhyme. Droopy Drawers means your pants are falling down. This could be a bawdy reference to the other bingo call for 44, 'Aldershot Whores’, which has understandably fallen out of fashion.
• 45. Halfway There, Cowboy’s Friend - Halfway There literally means to 90, which is the total of number of squares on the bingo card. Cowboy’s Friend refers to the Colt 45 revolver.
• 46. Up to Tricks - A simple rhyme.
• 47. Four and Seven - Not a lot of explanation required here.
• 48. Four Dozen - 4 x 12 = 48
• 49. Rise and Shine, PC 49, Copper, Nick-Nick - Rise and Shine is a simple rhyme. PC 49 refers to a popular radio show from the 1940s and 50s whose central character was Police Constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby – P.C. 49. This is also the source of ‘Copper’, which is a  slang expression for a policeman and ‘Nick-Nick' is being arrested. Things escalate fast in bingo.
• 50. Blind 50, Half a Century, It’s a Bullseye - 50 being half of 100, is Half a Century - and 50 points being the score for hitting the middle dart board, It's a Bullseye.
• 51. Tweak of the Thumb, The Highland Div - Tweak of the Thumb is a simple rhyme that has a similar meaning to "in the blink of an eye". The Highland Division is a military reference to the the 51st Infantry Division.
• 52. Weeks of the Year, The Lowland Div, Deck of Cards - Well, we all know there are 52 Weeks of the Year. The Lowland Div, like the call before, refers to the 52nd Infantry Division and there are 52 cards in Deck of Cards.
• 53. Stuck in the Tree, The Welsh Div - Stuck in the Tree is another straight rhyme. The Welsh Div is the 53rd Army Division.
• 54. Clean the Floor - A simple rhyme.
• 55. Snakes Alive  - If the number five is One Little Snake it’s no surprise that 55 is Snakes Alive, making this the double whammy of a visual gag and a rhyme.
• 56. Shotts Bus, Was She Worth It - Shotts Bus was the number 56 bus which went from Glasgow to Shotts in Lanarkshire, a town midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Was She Worth refers to the cost of a marriage licence which, back in the 1950s, would set you back five shillings and a sixpence.
• 57. Heinz Varieties - Heinz 57, also a slang expression for a mongrel dog, refers to the number 57 seen on the brand’s ketchup bottles, which refers to the number of different products in their range.
• 58. Make Them Wait, Choo Choo Thomas - Make Them Wait is a simple rhyme. A truly traditional bingo call, ‘Choo Choo Thomas’ is a reference to Thomas the Tank Engine, who first appeared in the famous books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry in 1945. Although modern readers may think of the little steam train as being the number one engine, he actually started his career further down the pecking order as engine number 58.
• 59. Brighton Line - Route 59 nine was the train line day trippers took out of London when heading for Brighton and the South Coast
• 60. Blind 60, Five Dozen, Grandma’s Getting Frisky -12 x 5 = 60. ‘Grandma’s Getting Frisky’ is a simple rhyme but one that may spark alarm in younger bingo players as they cast their eye over their blue rinse competition!

Traditional bingo calls 61-90

• 61. Bakers Bun - A simple rhyme
• 62. Turn of the Screw, To Waterloo, Tickety Boo - Turn of the Screw is a book by Henry James about demonically possessed children. The phrase has a similar meaning to ‘tightening the noose’ (and also rhymes with 62).  To Waterloo is a naval term which, contrary to expectation, does not allude to the famous battle. Instead it refers to the cost of the train fare of 6/2 from Portsmouth to Waterloo station. Tickety Boo is a military phrase that is thought to have come from England’s colonial past in India with the Hindi phrase “tickee babu” translates as “everything’s alright sir”.
• 63. Tickle Me - A simple rhyme.
• 64. Red Raw, Almost Retired - Red Raw is a simple rhyme. Almost Retired refers to the fact that 65 was the age at which men could claim their state pension.
• 65. Old Age Pension - Oh the good old days when you could retire at 65.
• 66. Clickety Click - A simple rhyme.
• 67. Made in Heaven, The Argumentative Number, Stairway to Heaven - A simple rhyme. The Argumentative Number comes from the phrase “at sixes and sevens” meaning to be in a state of confusion. Stairway to Heaven is a simple rhyme.
• 68. Pick a Mate, Saving Grace - A simple rhyme.
• 69. Either Way Up, Meal for Two - Bawdy sex position innuendo.
• 70. Blind 70, Three Score & Ten - 3 x 6 + 10 = 70
• 71. Bang on the Drum  - A simple rhyme
• 72. Six Dozen, Par for the Course - 6 x 12 = 72. 72 is also the standard par for a championship golf course.
• 73. Queen Bee - A simple rhyme
• 74. Candy Store - A simple rhyme.
• 75. Strive & Strive - A simple rhyme.
• 76. Trombones  -“Seventy-six trombones led the big parade” according to the famous 1950s Broadway musical  ‘The Music Man’. One of the first traditional bingo calls. 
• 77. All the Sevens, Two Little Crutches - Another visual reference.
• 78. Heavens Gate - A simple rhyme.
• 79. One More Time - A simple rhyme.
• 80. Blind 80, Ate Nothing, Eight & Blank, Gandhi’s Breakfast - Gandhi’s Breakfast is a visual reference. The 8 is supposed to look like Gandhi sitting crossed leg in front of an empty plate alluding to the fact that when he fasted he ate nothing (80).
• 81. Stop & Run, Fat Lady With a Walking Stick - 'Stop and Run' implies legging it from the police and links with the advice in number 82 which seems to suggests crashing the lights. Fat Lady With a Walking Stick, is a recurring visual joke with the number eight 'fat lady' and her walking aid.
• 82. Straight On Through - A simple rhyme.
• 83. Time for Tea, Ethel’s Ear - Time for Tea rhymes, whereas Ethel’s Ear is a somewhat obscure visual gag with the number 8 representing a fat lady, who has been dubbed Ethel, the 3 is meant to resemble her ear.
• 84. Seven Dozen - 7 x 12. = 84
• 85. Staying Alive - A simple rhyme.
• 86. Between the Sticks - This one refers to the position of the goalie in football standing between the goal posts.
• 87. Torquay in Devon - A simple – and accurate – rhyme. 
• 88. All the Eights, Two Fat Ladies, Connaught Rangers - Two Fat Ladies is a visual gag to which players are meant to respond: "Wobble, wobble". The Connaught Rangers were the 88th Army Regiment of Foot.
• 89. Nearly There - Just one more to go. 
• 90. Top of the Shop, End of the Line - And there we have it, the last number on the card.
• Got all that? Remember all these bingo calls and your bingo lingo will be world class.

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Wondering how to play bingo? We break down the rules of bingo for you. Eyes down, daubers at the ready!

Modern bingo, the game of chance, was invented decades ago and has been loved for generations. Over three million Brits play at least twice a week. You might think that Bingo is just a pastime for pensioners – but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Nowadays, bingo is a fast-paced game that’s a lot of fun, too - and there are many different types of bingo games to enjoy.

How to play bingo: the rules explained

Bingo is all about probability. Each bingo player is given a card made up of a random set of 15 numbers between 1-90. The numbers are arranged on a card or ticket with 27 spaces. 12 spaces are left blank. The aim is to match numbers as follows:

• Four Corners – Each number in the four corners of the ticket.
• Line – a horizontal line of five numbers.
• Two Lines – two horizontal lines of five numbers.
• Full House – covering all the numbers on the ticket.

Each game has a bingo caller whose role it is to select the numbers. The bingo caller calls out numbers (between 1-90) that are randomly selected either by a computer, a random number generator or using a mechanical draw machine. Some bingo callers may still draw numbers from a bag, like they would have when bingo began. However, this is not the method of choice for most professional bingo halls in 2020.

Once a number is selected, the bingo caller “calls” the number, often using a range of traditional bingo calls or modern and funny bingo calls, which regular players get familiar with over time.

Should the player see that number on their card, they “daub” the ticket – or mark off the number – using a bingo “dauber”. A bingo dauber is a large felt tip pen with a circular head. Some bingo halls have now computerised this process. If you’re playing online bingo, there will be an automatic bingo-daubing process.

As soon as you have marked enough numbers to win a prize – rules may vary by hall or game – you shout “Bingo” as loudly as you can, to get the bingo caller’s attention. You must shout bingo before the next number is called or you miss out on your chance to win.

How to play bingo online

Online bingo is easier than real life bingo in many ways and is a great alternative if you're unable to get to the bingo halls. Playing online bingo is simple. Just find a bingo or slot game you like the look of and choose the number of tickets you'd like to buy. A lot of games cost as little as 1p a ticket so a newbie like yourself might like to give them a go first. The bingo numbers are called out, and your ticket will be automatically daubed by your computer, so you never need to worry about missing a number!

Where to play online bingo 

Ready to play online but wondering which bingo sites are best? There are so many sites out there to chose from, so we've picked two of our favourites for you to make the choice easier!

• Pick Me Up! Bingo: Add £10,play with £25 plus 50 free spins

• Chat Mag Bingo: Add £10 play with £40*

Playing online bingo can be a lot of fun but with so many bingo sites out there, it's hard to know which bingo site is best. 

That's why we've rounded up some of our favourite online bingo sites and listed the distinct features of each one, so you can make an informed choice about where to play bingo.

If you're a fan of the game, you might be interested to know bingo was invented hundreds of years ago, and many believe it originated in Italy - before it gained in popularity in the USA and in bingo halls across the UK in the 1950s. Regular players will be familiar with many of the traditional bingo calls as well as the more modern bingo nicknames. There are many different types of bingo  - you're new to the game, read our advice on how to play bingo.

18+ Please Play Responsibly. BeGambleAware.Org

How to choose best bingo sites 

1. Look out for welcome offers

Most bingo sites will offer new members an incentive when they join and make their first deposit.  These welcome offers can vary from bonus funds, bingo tickets, or free spins.  

OUR TOP TIP: Welcome offers are a great way to top up your first deposit and try out a site to see if you like it, but always check the T&Cs, as some will state you have to wager a certain amount before you can withdraw any winnings.  

2. Seek out an online community

One of the reasons bingo halls are so popular, is the community-vibe you get when playing amongst friends. It’s hard to recreate this online, but lots of sites have chat rooms where you can have a bit of a chat with fellow bingo lovers.  The chat rooms often run next to the game room, so you can still see your bingo game playing out while talking, and congratulating other players on their wins.     

OUT TOP TIP:  Depending on the bingo site, Chat room Hosts often hold extra games in the chat rooms. Keep an eye out for what’s happening on your site. 

3. Discover a range of games

If you’re joining an online bingo site, chances are you want a good selection of bingo games!  Bingo sites should always have a few bingo rooms “live” at any time of the day, and with various ticket prices - usually, there’ll be games from 1p a ticket, sometimes £1 to £5 for a game with a bigger jackpot.  Nearly all bingo sites will also offer slot games and sometimes even casino style-games.  

OUR TOP TIP: You should be able to see a selection of what games you can play on a site's homepage before joining. This will give you an idea of what you’ll be able to play on site. 

4. Make sure there's help to play safe

Any good bingo site will easily allow you to set deposit limits and have tools like session reminders available to help you play responsibly and stay in control of your spending. It's fun to have a little flutter, but it's important to not spend outside of your means.

OUR TOP TIP: When you join, set yourself a deposit limit.

Other features we think make up a great bingo site:

- Regular on-site promotions or events
- Easy to access customer support

Which bingo site is best? 

Woman Bingo

Reasons to Join:

• Huge variety of slot games, and regular new game releases
• Easy to register and find your way around the site 
• The official bingo site of Woman Magazine  

• Woman Bingo: Add £10, get £40 to Play 

Pick Me Up! Bingo

Reasons to join:

• Relaunched in 2020 on a new platform and a fresh new look.  
• Part of a large network of bingo sites
• Great for slots lovers over 500 to play including Rainbow Riches, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest

• Pick Me Up! Bingo: Add £10, get £25 to play plus 50 Free Spins

Chat Mag Bingo

Reasons to join:

• The official bingo site of Chat Magazine, one of the UK’s favourite real-life magazines.
• Celebrating it’s 15th birthday in 2021, there’s loads of on site promotions to take part in. 
• We love the range of Slingo games available - it’s the best of bingo and slots combined 
• Daily Must Drop Jackpots

• Chat Mag Bingo: Join & Deposit £10, get £40 to play

Woman’s Own Bingo

Reasons to join:

• Lots of bingo games to choose from: 75 Ball, 90 Ball, 52 Ball, Mystery Jackpots and special prize games.
• Simple to navigate games lobby – finding your favourite games and promotions is easy
• Free bingo room for new members (after you make your first deposit)

• Woman's Own Bingo - Add £10, get £25 to play and 50 Free Spins 

Want to play online bingo but don't know where to start? We breakdown the different types of bingo games you're likely to find online.

Bingo has been around for decades, and rose to popularity in bingo halls around the UK in the 1950s. But, even if you're familiar with the game (and all the traditional bingo calls and the modern and funny bingo calls), you'd be forgiven for feeling confused about the different types of bingo games you can play online, which is why we've outlined them below.

Wondering whether or not there's a trick to winning online bingo? Sadly no. Just with bingo played in bingo halls, online bingo really is a game of chance so there is no trick to winning it. Never try and chase a win, that's just not in the spirit of bingo. If you're new to the game  or haven't played in a while, brush up with our advice on how to play bingo, and see our pick of the best bingo sites.

18+ Please Play Responsibly. BeGambleAware.Org

The different types of bingo games

90 Ball Bingo

90 Ball Bingo is the most traditional game of online bingo and the most similar to the games played in bingo halls around the country. Rules vary per game, but the goal is to mark either one line, two lines, or a full house of matched numbers, within 90 ball calls.

Sometimes there is even more money up for grabs –  a progressive jackpot –  if you call "bingo" within 45 balls or less, so it really does pay to keep your eyes on the screen.

75 Ball Bingo

The clue's in the name. This game of online bingo uses 75 Balls, instead of the traditional 90. The goal is to make patterns on your grid which vary per game, but could be a cross, diamond, blackout etc. See below for some examples.

52 Ball Bingo

52 Ball Bingo is mix of the two games above. The main difference here is that the balls are actually playing cards – hence the number 52 as that's the amount of cards in a standard deck. Players are handed five cards which they mark off as they are called.

Slingo

A mash- up of slots and bingo. You have a bingo card of numbers, and you spin the reels to mark them off.  

Each player receives one Slingo card with 25 numbers arranged in five columns (it looks a little like a 75-ball bingo card). A player then hits the spin button to receive five numbers at a time, these appear at the bottom of the card. If your card has one of the numbers, they will then be marked off the card. The aim is to create Slingos to win a prize.

A Slingo is achieved when a player marks off five numbers diagonally, horizontally or vertically. Each Slingo created awards points, the player with the most points wins the game.

During the game, special symbols may show up instead of numbers. 

Rules do vary between the versions, but these basics are about the same in every online Slingo game.

Bingo Roulette

A fun alternative to bingo calls, the caller spins the roulette wheel to generate numbers.

How to play slot games

One of the great things about playing online bingo is… there’s more than just bingo! Most online bingo sites have a range of slot games you can play while you wait for a bingo game to go live, or just because you fancy a spin. 

All slots are slightly different, but the general rule is the same. You select your stake (how much you want to gamble per line, usually 1p, 10p, 20p or a £1), how many lines you want to play and then hit spin. 

Most slot games online feature "wilds" and "scatters" that can trigger bonus rounds. Bonus rounds vary per site and slot game, but usually offer a chance to win free spins, extra games or even a jackpot.  

Some of the nation's favourite online slot games include Rainbow Riches and Starburst, pictured above. 

Where to play Online Bingo & Slots ? 

• Woman's Own Bingo: Add £10, get £25 to play and 50 Free Spins*

• Chat Mag Bingo: Add £10, get £40 to Play*